It’s summer in Broken Arrow, and one of the most requested services the city offers each year is mosquito spraying.
In this All-in-One Broken Arrow video, you’ll learn what you need to know about how the city addresses these concerns.
Step 1: Request acknowledged. When city personnel receive a request, they’ll review the concern and issue a work order.
Step 2: Collect Data. A sample of mosquitoes will be collected over a 24-hour period and sent to the Tulsa Health Department for West Nile Virus testing.
Step 3: Testing. For an area to qualify for mosquito spraying, it must meet the following criteria.
The number of mosquitoes collected exceeds the 100-mosquito threshold.
The Tulsa County Health Department confirms that a mosquito tests positive for West Nile Virus.
If either condition is met, the city will spray the affected area with a chemical that is not harmful to humans or pets.
The day after the spraying is complete, the city will conduct an Adverse Incident Inspection to ensure that wildlife wasn’t harmed during the spraying process.
It is also important to note that spraying mosquitoes is the city's last resort. The preferred method of combating the mosquito population is larvicide, which addresses the issue before the mosquito population matures.
Residents can help by eliminating standing water, cleaning gutters, and maintaining their lawns. You are also encouraged to download the My Broken Arrow Action Center app to report issues.
Rest assured, the city will diligently collect and analyze data before deciding whether to spray. This protocol prioritizes environmental concerns and allows us to address the issue early in mosquito development. Residents can opt out of the mosquito spraying service by notifying the city in advance. The notification must be renewed annually.
Additional information on how to protect your family from mosquitoes is available on the city website’s Mosquito Control page.
